Proximity-based system for object tracking and automatic application initialization

• US 9,265,450 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Inventors: Giobbi, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US13/401,702
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 340 58- 586, 340/13.26, 3405721-5724
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0718 the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10267 the arrangement comprising a circuit inside of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method provides for one or more of tracking of an object and providing automatic access to applications or data. Depending upon the embodiment, the system includes a personal digital key (PDK), a reader, a computing device and one or more of an auto login server and a tracking server. The PDK stores one or more profiles in memory. A reader is configured to wirelessly communicate with the PDK. The computing device is coupled to the reader and one or more of the auto login server and tracking server. The auto login server is configured to communicate with the reader and launches one or more applications associated with a user name identified by a profile received from the PDK. The tracking server is configured to communicate with the reader and to track and log information received from the PDK associated with the object.

Claims

1. A system for tracking an object, the system comprising:

a first personal digital key (PDK) including a profile uniquely associated with the object, wherein the first PDK includes an I/O line communicatively coupled to the object to perform signaling the object to create one or more of a visual and an audio response at the object, when the object needs one or more of maintenance and recalibration;

a reader configured to wirelessly communicate with the first PDK at a first rate when the first PDK is stationary and, responsive to detecting movement of the first PDK, the reader to communicate with the first PDK at another rate, the reader communicating with another PDK at the another rate, the reader receiving profile information from the first PDK;

a tracking server configured to communicate with the reader, the tracking server configured to track and log information of the first PDK associated with the object, the information received from the reader and the tracking server further configured to predict device location based on the tracked and logged information; and

a computing device configured to communicate with the reader and the tracking server, the computing device configured to display data on a display device responsive to receiving the information from the reader.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first PDK has a type.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the type of the first PDK is based at least in part on the object the first PDK is associated with.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first rate is based at least in part on a type associated with the first PDK.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first rate is system-defined.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first rate is independently-defined.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first PDK is further configured to receive an input and, responsive to receiving the input, an application displays information regarding the object associated with the first PDK on the computing device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the object associated with the first PDK is a piece of equipment and the information regarding the object associated with the first PDK includes one or more of the equipment'"'"'s usage, maintenance, and calibration information.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an alert server, the alert server configured to automatically provide updates and alerts for monitored objects.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the I/O line is communicatively coupled to the object to perform monitoring the object by receiving sensor or object data, wherein the tracking server is configured to track and log the sensor or object data received by the first PDK associated with the reader.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an alert server, the alert server configured to automatically provide updates and alerts for monitored objects when the predetermined sensor or object data criteria are met, or not met, and further configured to output to and create a response at the monitored object using the first PDK'"'"'s I/O when a first predetermined sensor or first object data criteria is met, or not met.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the object is signaled to create the one or more of the visual and the audio response at the object to help identify the object creating the alert, the type of alert created or both.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the tracking server is configured to receive a user selection of an object associated with the first PDK and the monitored object is signaled to create the one or more of the visual and the audio response at the object responsive to selection by the user.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the tracking server is configured to receive a user input defining a geographic area, display one or more objects each associated with a PDK based on one or more criteria and sort the one or more objects based on one or more criteria.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein one or more of the sorted objects are signaled to create a response.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more objects are sorted by one or more of service and calibration data and wherein the one or more objects due for one or more of service and calibration are signaled to create a response in order to identify the objects.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the object is signaled to create the one or more of the visual response and the audio response.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the object is signaled to create the one or more of the visual and the audio response at the object when the monitored object is proximate to one or more similar objects.

19. A method comprising:

receiving tracking and logging information of a first personal digital key (PDK) associated with an object at a first rate,

predicting, based on the received tracking and logging information, a device location based on the tracked and logged information

communicating with the first PDK at the first rate when the first PDK is stationary and communicating with another PDK at another rate;

responsive to detecting movement of the first PDK, communicating with the first PDK at the another rate;

receiving profile information from the first PDK at one or more of the first rate and the another rate; and

signaling the object to create one or more of a visual and an audio response at the object, when the object needs one or more of maintenance and recalibration.